Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2017, President Pranab Mukherjee today said that the democratic process of the country is gradually unfolding and India is the fastest growing economy.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2017, President Pranab Mukherjee today said that the democratic process of the country is gradually unfolding and India is the fastest growing economy. On his long journey of politics, the President said that he adopted Jawaharlal Nehru as an icon. Further lauding the first Prime Minister of the country, President Mukherjee stated that Nehru made the parliament vibrant and had a dominance influence on him. Pranab Mukherjee also came up with words of praise for the first Deputy Prime Minister of India and mentioned that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had unified India after partition. On his political career, Mukherjee said that he could have worked two more years as a Member of Parliament.

Also lauding Prime Minister Narrendra Modi, President Mukherjee stated PM Modi as a ‘true democrat’. Citing that the PM has picked up very quickly, he said Modi has his own way to deal with things. He also claimed that PM Modi has mastery over foreign affairs.

The India Today Conclave 2017 is being held in Mumbai. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy are among a host of dignitaries who are gracing the event. The two-day event, beginning from today, will be deliberating on its theme ‘The Great Disruption’. PM Modi will address the 16th edition of the conclave in the concluding session. The PM will be sharing his thoughts on the Politics of Disruption Setting India’s New Agenda, according to the India Today report.

Former president of France Nicolas Sarkozy will speak on Globalism in the Age of Protection: The Balance of Interests in the fast changing world. Other guests, include Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dharmendra Pradhan, will also address.

“India Today Conclave was started as part of India Today’s 25th anniversary and was designed to attract the best minds from around the world to debate the existing challenges. The theme of the inaugural year was India Tomorrow 2022: Opportunities and Threats. The then US vice-president Al gore was the chief guest,” according to the India Today Group.